Tag: Grandpa

Fire Truck Shirts

Posted on by Pints with Pops

Today was picture day at school. The big question in our household was “what will Layton wear for pictures?” Fire truck shirts are currently the only acceptable wardrobe piece for our little man. In an effort to have him look “nice” for his pictures we asked him to pick out a button up shirt from his closet in advance that he would be willing to wear. He did so without a challenge and we hung it on his dresser for today. My wife is typically gone in the morning when Layton gets up, so getting ready and dropping him off are my responsibility. It’s been that way from the beginning so we have a pretty solid routine down. It did not follow the typical routine this morning.

He got up, found me, and asked to read a book. So far so good. After our book I tell him it’s time to get ready for school. I reminded him it was picture day and he should get the shirt he picked out off his dresser. He responds “I no like that shirt.” I reminded him he picked it out and wanted to wear it. “I no like that shirt.” Ok, we’d like you to look “nice” for your pictures at school today, please pick a shirt out from your closet. “Me no like buttons.” Thus begins a lot of me yelling, him saying no, me trying to explain why he should wear a “nice” shirt for pictures, him saying no, me saying we want you to look nice in your pictures, he reluctantly put on a polo still saying no, me yelling, him crying, me yelling, him crying, then I gave myself a timeout. I then thought WTF am I doing? I’m arguing with a three year-old about what shirt to wear for school pictures. Why does that matter at all? Every reason I gave him, which were very few, to wear a “nice” shirt for pictures were completely idiotic and self-serving. The only people who would care what shirt he wore for his pictures were me and my wife. He hasn’t worn a shirt with buttons on since Christmas and before that I couldn’t tell you. We both calmed down and I asked him what shirt he wanted to wear. He said “this one” in a very somber tone, referring to the polo he had on. An incredibly heartbreaking compromise on his part, clearly in an effort to make me happy. We sat in his room for a while. I apologized for yelling, gave him a hug, and told him I loved him. I asked him what shirt do you really want to wear? He went to his drawer and pulled out a fire truck shirt. I said ok, let’s put it on. He was clearly very happy. I was as well. Whether he smiles in his pictures or not is one question but at least I’ll know he is himself in those pictures, not who I wanted him to look like. This may seem small but I am guessing it was huge for him.

Another thought that came to mind from this morning’s episode is why he doesn’t like buttoned shirts. I don’t know if this is the reason but it may make sense on some level. I work in an office environment and wear polo’s and button up shirts everyday. If I am wearing one and it’s not the normal “work time” Layton will ask “why you wearing work clothes?” If he associates those specific clothes with work, which would then mean me leaving him, I could see the deeper connection of him not liking buttoned shirts. Maybe I’m thinking too deep on it and he simply likes fire truck shirts that much. Either way this morning brought some needed perspective.

What’s in a name?

Posted on by Pints with Pops

Pints with Pops.

It can mean several things.  I initially chose the name because it seemed attractive to the fatherly audience and would have some appeal to get pops to show up once a month to maybe talk about fatherhood stuff.  Backtrack… I chose the name, my wife came up with the name.  She was actually instrumental in Pints with Pops becoming a thing.  She was the first person I talked in detail with this about and was 100% supportive even though it meant another night I would be away for a few hours.  Now that credit has been properly given, back to the name.

Pints with Pops.  Appealing to the target audience, gets the point across that we’d have a pint of something (likely a beer), and the likely attendees would be fathers.  “With”, this is the key word.  I’ve seen “Pints for Pops”.  This is not “for”, it is with.  Why with?  it implies togetherness rather than entitlement.  This is a group where we come together and share experiences; it’s intended to be supportive and encouraging, not come and receive something.  Pops, synonymous with father or dad.  That was the initial thought process that got me to “Pints with Pops”.

I did receive some push back on the name.  It does imply the consumption of alcohol.  Spouses don’t necessarily think of going out for a beer is the proper way to spend a couple hours away from your family even if it is talking about fatherhood stuff.  Another tough sell, we actually talk about fatherhood stuff.  We do, it’s legit.  Nothing preachy, just experiences.  What did your kid do this week?  Mine ate sand…

In the end I decided the name was general enough it could withstand the criticisms.  I gave coupons for free pints of ice cream at our one year anniversary gathering.  Not all pints are beer.  It’s simply a unit of measure.

That leads me to the deeper meaning of the name, which I didn’t really stumble upon until several gatherings in.  “Pints” ends up being a synonym for everything Pints with Pops is.  Think of the British phrase “Let’s grab a pint”.  Yes, it means let’s get a beer; but you’re not just getting a beer, you’re getting a beer and having a conversation.  You don’t say “let’s grab a pint” when your intention is to over-imbibe, you say it when you want to go out and socialize.  Next, the term “half-pint”.  This normally refers to a small person, typically a child.  That fits perfect as the intention is to talk about our children and experiences we have as father.  Lastly, the simple meaning of pint as a unit of measure.  I understand it usually references an amount of liquid; however, a pint of information is just as acceptable.  It’s my interpretation.

That’s really all the depth I have for you.  I explained the importance of “with” earlier.  “Pops” has a better ring to it than “Pints with Dads” or “Pints with Fathers”.  I’m still searching for the deeper meaning in “Pops”.  I am from Wisconsin so it may also refer to a sugary carbonated beverage others call “soda” or those in the south call a “coke”.

Pints with Pops – August 2016

Posted on by Pints with Pops

This is the story I shared in August of 2016, I laughed reading through this one and also remembered that knowing that asking for support is not only ok but occasionally necessary:

“After last month’s blow out fiasco I was wondering what story will I share next month in my invite.  I’m learning very quickly that having a child, I will never be short of stories.  This month’s experience has to do with that same little chair thing mentioned last month.  Unsurprisingly, and some of you may have guessed already, another blow out, again while mom was gone.  I set Layton in his little chair so I could go get something accomplished, what it was I’m not sure, nor does it matter.  I came back not even two minutes later and the dog is sniffing the chair by Layton’s leg.  I got the dog away and saw a color that’s not part of the chair.  So, I go through the process of getting Layton out of the chair and rush him to the tub hoping not to get any on the carpet.  I run back to put the chair up off the floor and the dog is kindly assisting with the cleanup process.  I give him a good stare and he stares back knowing he did something he probably shouldn’t have and licks his lips… Seriously.  I need to write to Fisher Price about their chair‘s ability to cause infants to poop.  Be wary if you own one, you may be in for a messy surprise.  After getting Layton cleaned up the day didn’t get much better in terms of his temperament and Grandma/Grandpa were called for reinforcements.  I always hoped I wouldn’t need to call for help, but sometimes it gets to be very overwhelming not being able to calm a child.  Thankfully for me the grandparents are only a couple minutes away.  It was a good learning experience for me that it is perfectly acceptable to ask for assistance when taking care of my child.  That got deep fast, my apologies; however it is part of fatherhood.”